Tony Stewart, a three-time Cup Series champion and outspoken figure in motorsports, launched a fierce criticism at NASCAR this week, blasting the organization for repeatedly ignoring drivers’ feedback on critical changes. During a candid discussion on the latest episode of Rubbin is Racing, Stewart expressed intense frustration over what he sees as NASCAR’s ongoing dismissal of expert opinions, warning that such disregard not only upsets competitors but also threatens the future of the sport.
Stewart reflected on a long-standing issue, arguing that many fans’ calls for adjustments like softer tires and increased horsepower are merely echoes of demands drivers have been making for years. He stated,
That’s what the drivers have been saying! Where do you think the fans got this? The fans aren’t even smart enough to know that that’s what we need! It’s not their fault. They don’t drive the cars.
By highlighting this disconnect, Stewart painted a grim picture of an organization out of touch with the very professionals it relies on for success and innovation.
For years, prominent drivers including Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson have called for specific technical improvements to racing vehicles, particularly urging NASCAR to deliver more horsepower. Despite clear and consistent messages from experienced competitors, Stewart claims their recommendations are routinely ignored by decision-makers. According to Stewart, these drivers’ well-founded opinions have gone nowhere, leaving many feeling dismissed and disheartened.
Recalling his own experience, Tony Stewart gave a somber account of the time he and around twenty other racers united to present NASCAR with five well-defined suggestions aimed at improving the racing experience for everyone involved. Stewart remembered the pivotal meeting with visible agitation; instead of being heard, the group was told that their ideas were entirely wrong, as someone in leadership insisted that internal data pointed in the opposite direction. Stewart recounted with distress,
We all agreed on five things we thought would make the racing better for fans, drivers, and everybody. And one guy told us that all five things we said were the opposite. He goes, ‘Our data shows the other way.’ The guy who said that had never driven a race car. Never worked on a race car.
He continued, detailing how unsettling it felt to be dismissed by a decision-maker with no personal experience behind the wheel.
He tells us, 20 drivers who have been doing this our entire lives and worked our a** to get to this professional level, that we were all wrong. Not only wrong, but everything we said was the polar opposite of what was right.
Stewart did not identify the executive in question, but made it clear that the lack of listening was deeply damaging.
Tony Stewart’s critical assessment brings renewed attention to NASCAR’s strained relationship with those who understand the sport best. His outspoken stance suggests that the failure to listen to drivers is a leading cause of NASCAR’s struggles with dwindling viewership and declining fan engagement. As Stewart’s frustration reverberates throughout the racing community, it intensifies the pressure on NASCAR to finally recognize the value of driver feedback. The debate continues over whether the leadership will take meaningful action, with many watching closely for signs of authentic change.
